Side Effects

Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, flushing, and numbness/tingling may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes, unusual weakness.

Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This product should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: altretamine, cisplatin, levodopa (when used without carbidopa).

If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medication.

Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: folic acid antagonist (e.g., methotrexate), hydantoins (e.g., phenytoin, diphenylhydantoin), pyrimethamine, other vitamin/nutritional supplements.

This product can affect the results of certain lab tests (e.g., intrinsic factor antibodies, certain urobilinogen tests). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood count, homocysteine levels) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Remember that it is best to get your vitamins and minerals from healthy foods. Maintain a well-balanced diet and follow any dietary guidelines as directed by your doctor. B vitamins, including folic acid, are naturally found in leafy greens, other vegetables, and citrus fruits. Folic acid is also found in enriched grains such as bread, pasta and cereal.

Some brands of this medication may also contain ingredients such as vitamin E, para-aminobenzoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the ingredients in your brand.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised March 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, expect as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

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